The Filtered Excellence: December 8, 2011

Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” Its right here. Here are this weeks picks of what to WATCH, what to DO what to TRY what to READ what to LISTEN TO and more:

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WATCH THIS:

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy.  An old school style international spy thriller with an amazing cast–  Gary Oldman, Colin Firth, John Hurt, and Toby Jones. Derived from the classic John Le Carre novel of the same name, the film is set during the peak of the Cold War. Gary Oldman plays George Smiley, a defamed British spy, who is covertly reinstated by his government after suspicion that the British Secret Intelligence Service, has been infiltrated by a mole. What follows is an absorbing hunt for the double agent working for the Soviets. Smart and intensely suspenseful, this film is full of stark Cold War atmosphere that isn’t flashy, of course, but reverberates with themes of mistrust, paranoia, and intrigue. Check out the trailer here.  (Opens December 9th)

The Life and Death of a Hockey Enforcer.  Compelling journalism at its best.  Over six months, The New York Times examined the life and death of the professional hockey player Derek Boogaard, who rose to fame as one of the sport’s most feared fighters before dying at age 28 on May 13.  A series of articles and three twelve-minute documentary-style videos tell his life story while covering the ills of hockey fighting.  All available for free, online.  Click here to watch the videos and read the articles.

El Clásico also known as El derbi Español.  This match between Real Madrid and Barcelona is the most followed club football match in the world, watched by hundreds of millions of people (other than the UEFA Champions League Final, of course).  Madrid and Barcelona are the two largest cities in Spain, and the two clubs are the richest, most successful and influential football clubs in the world. The Rivalry is argued by many to be the biggest in world football.  The game airs this Saturday at 4pm this Saturday on ESPN Networks.  December 10, 2011.

LISTEN TO THIS:

The Magic of Youth by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.  Ska seems to hit popular consciousness in a cycles, and if you’re paying attention to past history, we’re probably about due for the fourth wave of ska.  Who better to usher it in than leaders of the 90s third wave of ska, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones.  On their latest, The Magic of Youth, the Bosstones tread familiar ground, but they aren’t trying to be anything they aren’t.  They’re a ska-punk band, and a damn fine one at that.  Fans who first heard the band with the “Impression that I Get” and long time fans alike will find plenty to love. Check out the title track here first, then buy it here on Amazon or download it here.

READ THIS:

Love Goes to Buildings on Fire:  Five Years in New York That Changed Music Forever by Will Hermes.  A pivotal period in American music: NYC from New Year’s Day 1973 to New Year’s Eve 1977 is the complete focus of Will Hermes’ new book. The city was gritty and broken down, crime was rampant, and music was everywhere. Punk, Rap, Jazz, Salsa, Disco, and even Classical.  Musical innovation was rising all over as scenes generated and converged from the bombed out neighborhoods of  the South Bronx to Lower Manhattan and the clubs of post-folk Greenwich Village.  Hermes, a senior critic at Rolling Stone Magazine and contributor to The New York Times, captures the zeitgeist of mid-70’s New York City in Love Goes to Buildings on Fire where artists “were breaking music apart and rebuilding it for a new era.” Order the book  on Amazon or download it here.

Malcolm Gladwell Collected.  Still not hip to the wit and wisdom of Malcolm Gladwell?  Well, just in time for the holidays, Gladwell repackages and redesigns his three best-selling books, The Tipping Point, Blink and Outliers into one cool set.  There’s also new illustrations by Brian Rea.  It’s a perfect way to introduce someone to one of our best writers and observationists. Order it here on Amazon.

BROWSE THIS:

Terry Richardson’s Diary.  Terry Richardson’s life is as colorful, if not more colorful than the celebrities that he captures on camera. His website captures all of the decadence in all of its ragged glory. You’ll be amazed how many people he knows and some of the things that he gets them to do.  Check it out here.

TRY THIS:

Mama’s Nuts!?  Serious tasty great snacking. These family nut recipes are handmade in Chicago in small batches using the highest quality ingredients. There are so many great nutty confections from which to choose, but we recommend starting with the Spicy Sichuan Peanuts .  Sweet, salty, and spicy!

DO THIS:

The Rickford Institute All Star Classic.  Ricky Powell is one of the last of the true New Yorkers.   He’s also one of the best street photographers of all-time having shot everyone from Andy Warhol, Keith Haring, Jean-Michael Basquiat, Laurence Fishburne, and just everybody associated with Def Jam during its classic years. He also has his own line of sneakers, headphones and  world-famous slideshows with  actual slides, stories and high comedy.  To celebrate his 50th birthday, he’s putting together this group photography exhibit featuring his work alongside his friends and contemporaries including Joe Conzo, Jamel Shabazz, Martha Cooper, Charlie Ahearn, Clayton Patterson, Cheryl Dunn, and much more.  It opens December 17th at MILK Studios – 450 West 15th Street in New York.  Go to www.milkstudios.com for more info.

Northlandz.  Located in Flemington, New Jersey.  Northlandz claims to be the worlds largest miniature railway.  We can’t verify that, but we can verify that it’s an amazing family experience.   There’s more than eight miles of track, four hundred bridges, thousands of buildings, five hundred thousand lichen trees, and the raw materials used to build it are enough to build forty full size houses.  There’s no time limit, so don’t rush! It’s best to pay attention to detail as well as the big picture. There are many hidden gems that are just laugh-out-loud funny scattered throughout the various tableau. Especially keep an eye out for the signage during the tour.   495 US 202 in Flemington, NJ.  908.782.4022.

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Special Winter Wonderland Contest Alert!!!  Check out some of our recommendations for this week or any week’s Filtered Excellence and let us know what you think in the comment sections!  One lucky commenter will win a copy of L.A. Confidential signed by James Ellroy.  We’ll be  checking each of our weekly Filtered Excellence posts to find a winner.  Contest deadline is Sunday December 11th at 11:59pm est.